Corbion Purac will construct a EUR 60 million poly lactic acid (PLA) facility in Thailand. The company, which plans to offer new biodegradable solutions to the plastics market, seeks to surge its PLA output capacity by 75,000t per annum. Tjerk de Ruiter, CEO at Corbion Purac, says, “As part of our strategic review we confirm there is an attractive demand outlook for PLA, albeit at a lower growth pace than previously assumed. We will only commence with this investment if we can secure at least one-third of plant capacity in committed PLA volumes from customers.”

He added that the company projects to merge in the bio-plastics value chain, from being a lactide provider to a PLA manufacturer. The enterprise stated it will still offer lactides for PLA polymerisation clients, coatings and adhesives markets. Global PLA volumes are expected to rise to 600,000t per annum by 2025. The Dutch biotechnology firm operates in 20 countries and generates revenues of nearly EUR 744 million.


Read more: http://www.globalintelligence.com/insights/asia-news-update/asia-news-update-november-13-2014/japan-teijin-announces-future-plans-to-cut-costs-singapore-evonik-commissions-eur-500-million-methionine-output-complex-thailand-corbion-purac-to-construct-eur-60-million-poly-lactic-acid-plant#ixzz3LyMk5US1

Source: Chemicals-Technology, 4 November 2014